Bridget Phillipson MP

Education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has accused private schools of ‘crying wolf’ over the impact VAT on fees would have, as she rounds on critics who accuse her of rolling back education reforms.

In an interview with iNews, Phillipson said the prediction by independent schools that thousands of children would be forced into state schools as a result of the tax policy had not come to pass.

But, rejecting the claims, Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council, warned that Labour’s policy is already impacting families and schools, with a number of schools recently announcing closure.

Robinson said: “The VAT on fees policy has already had a very-real impact on schools and families.

“We remain concerned that there might not be the right spaces in the right places for children whose education is disrupted by this policy, especially exam students and those transferring mid academic year.

“The full effects of this policy are yet to be seen, and we are particularly worried about how this tax on education will continue to impact families, specialist provision, and capacity in the state sector.”